Best, lightest, and most awesome Android launchers

Ah, Android and its beauty! Without a shadow of doubt, it has the upper hand when it comes to flexibility and customizability - its biggest rivals (iOS and Windows Phone) literally don't stand a chance in this one-horse race. Thanks to this fundamental aspect of Android, almost any manufacturer out there usually snaps a home-brewed user interface suite on their devices. HTC's Sense and Samsung's TouchWiz are probably the most popular custom UIs for Android, but let's face it – not everyone likes the looks and the bag of features that these come with.

Fortunately, you can easily modify the interface looks of your Android device and make it suit your liking. Probably the easiest way to do so is by installing a custom 3rd-party launcher. Not only custom launchers provide you with different looks, they also come with a wide range of nifty customization features and options that are rarely found in stock UIs. What's more, most of the 3rd-party ones are usually a whole lot lighter and smoother, which is always welcome, isn't it?

While we are on the subject of home screen replacements, we decided to search the depths of Google Play and pick some of the best Android launchers out there. Check them out and don't forget to tell us which one is your favorite!

Note: The launchers below are sorted in no particular order.

Nova Launcher / Nova Launcher Prime

Nova Launcher is one of the lightest and most feature-packed AOSP-like launchers out there. It's often lauded as being the best all-around launcher for Android. It now comes with even more features than before and really sets itself apart from the competition. It already supports Google's Voice Search hotword ("OK, Google), allows its users to greatly alter the layout of their home screen, as well as the transition animations, icon shortcuts, etc. The paid version of the app, Nova Launcher Prime, will provide you with even more customization features. It's essential for customization devotees.

Nova Launcher / Nova Launcher Prime

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Apex Launcher / Apex Launcher Pro

Although not as feature-rich, Apex Launcher is pretty similar to Nova in terms of customizability. It allows you to have up to 9 homescreens, multiple drawer tabs, customize the icon and the label of any app or folder, define home screen gestures, and many more. As a whole, it's a decently balanced launcher - if you are looking for smooth performance and stability, then Apex will probably not disappoint you. The paid version of Apex, dubbed Apex Launcher Pro, comes with even more perks on board.

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Google Now Launcher

Okay, this is as stock as it gets - Google's in-house launcher is most probably coveted by those who dig the looks of vanilla Android, despite the relative lackluster of options and features in comparison with some other popular launchers. Still, Google Now Launcher provides you with a super-easy way to access Google Now (it's just a swipe away) and invoke Google's Voice Search directly from the home screen (courtesy of the ubiquitous "Okay, Google!" phrase). Check it out if you feel like that the pure Android experience is the best Android experience.

Google Now Launcher

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GO Launcher EX / GO Launcher Prime

One of the most popular and downloaded launchers for Android, GO launcher, comes with a decent amount of customization options. It supports custom icon packs, a wide range of themes, beautiful transition effects, and more. You can also launch apps with gestures. Still, Go Launcher is not among the lightest launchers, so it shouldn't be your first option if your device is a low-end one. What's more, the free version of the launcher comes with ads, and if you want to get rid of those, you'll have to get GO Launcher Prime.

GO Launcher EX / GO Launcher Prime

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Themer

If you've been into Android customization, then you've probably heard of Themer, the launcher that allows you to thoroughly change your home screen by downloading a new theme, each of which comes with a different icon pack, wallpaper, and widgets. There are many themes available for Themer and most of these are pretty sleek-looking ones.

Themer

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Z Launcher Beta

It might be lacking in the feature department, but Nokia's Z Launcher is a pretty easy-to-use home screen replacement. Just write the first letter of the app you want to launch and Z Launcher will comply. Nokia's launcher is a contextual one, which means that it keeps tabs on your day-to-day "app" habits and tries to suggest the relevant apps at the correct time. It's as straightforward as it gets, and just recently scored support for custom icon packs.

Nokia Z Launcher

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Smart Launcher 2 / Smart Launcher Pro 2

This is one of the more unique and curious Android launchers. The signature feature of Smart Launcher are the so-called "bubbles" - a circular dial of several apps that are neatly positioned on your home screen. Its app drawer, which can be accessed by swiping right, sorts your apps in several tabs - Media, Internet, Utilities, Games, etc. One of the few downsides of the launcher is that it doesn't support widgets - if you are a fan of these, you'll have to purchase Smart Launcher Pro 2.

Smart Launcher 2 / Smart Launcher Pro 2 screenshots

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Yahoo Aviate Launcher

After a long period of being in beta and an eventual acquisition by Yahoo, the contextual Aviate Launcher has been available for all Android users since mid-June. It takes into consideration certain factors and will dynamically change the apps and links on your home screen. When you wake up, for example, you'll be treated to some news and weather information; when you arrive at the office Aviate will show you productivity apps; when the launcher finds out that you are driving on the, say, highway, it can bump music and navigation apps on your home screen. Neat, right?

ahoo Aviate Launcher

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Apus Launcher

Although it is a relatively new player on the launcher playground, Apus has quickly gained a lot of popularity. Named after one of the most swiftest avians, Apus truly lives to its name. And there's a pretty solid reason for this - it's one of the lightest launchers we've ever tested. It will be safe to say that if you're looking for a quick and high-performing home screen replacement, you should be seriously considering Apus Launcher. Then again, it can't stand up to the major players in terms of customizability, but you can't have everything, right?

Apus Launcher

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MIUI Mi Launcher

Xiaomi's phones ship with the company's own ROM, MIUI. Its signature feature is the lack of... an app drawer, which makes it look like a peculiar mix between iOS and Android. The philosophy behind Mi Launcher is exactly the same - it ditches your app drawer and scatters your apps across several home screens. Don't turn your heads, Android die-hards! Mi Launcher is surprisingly easy to use and chances are that you'll end up loving it at the end of the day. Still, it comes with a pretty limited amount of customization capabilities, which might be a deal-breaker.

Mi Launcher

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Action Launcher 3

Chris Lacy's Action Launcher 3 is a total overhaul of Action Launcher 2. It still lacks a regular app drawer. In particular, swiping your home screen right will take you to an alphabetical list with all of your apps. Action Launcher 3 is strikingly light and smooth - interface lag and hiccups will probably be seen as scarce as hen's teeth. It also has a killer feature - thanks to Covers, users can interact with app icons in whole new way: tapping the icon will launch the app in question, but swiping the icon will open a folder. Nifty.

Action Launcher 3

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Buzz Launcher

The most prominent feature of Buzz Launcher is that it allows its users to download complete home screen setups. Don't confuse thеsе with themes - apart from coming with their own icon sets and wallpapers, these setups also rock their own layouts. Thus, each home screen setup has a completely different look and feel. Users can also create their own setups and share them. Surely, this great variety makes Buzz Launcher the perfect option for those Android fans that want to completely alter the interface of their devices trouble-free.

Buzz Launcher

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EverythingMe Launcher

This is a contextual launcher, touted as being able to "predict" what app you might need at any given time of the day. For example, it will bump news-related apps early in the morning, productivity-centric ones throughout the day, and even suggest restaurants if it detects that you are outside in the evening. The more you use it, the better EverythingMe will become (or so they say). Despite the limited customization options, it's a a pretty curious replacement of your stock UI.

EverythingMe Launcher

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Hola Launcher

Measuring just 1MB in size, Hola Launcher aims at being as small and lightweight as possible while providing users with all the substantia features that each and every launcher should bring to the table. The unique features of Hola are Hola Swipe, an easy way to see your recent apps, Hola Box, which allows you to easily hide apps and folders, and, of course, numerous customization options.

Hola Launcher

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SF Launcher 2

Recently risen from the ashes like a phoenix, SF Launcher 2 is a complete revamp of the original SF Launcher, now with a Material Design makeover. It adopts the card-like interface of Google Now, bringing it up front on your home screen. Your apps, your widgets, and Google-ish city-based themes are all a part of the equation. Basic customization is also on board.

SF Launcher 2

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T9 Launcher

Remember when all phones had physical keyboards that boasted T9 input prediction? So do we. If you've been missing this once-prevalent functionality on your shiny new Android trooper, worry not - T9 Launcher comes to the rescue.

T9 Launcher

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iLauncher

It resembles iOS. If you can stomach this and recuperate from the initial shock, then you'd probably notice that iLauncher is a pretty good home screen solution that mimics the looks of Apple's platform down to the last detail. Pair it with an iPhone clone and voila, you might fool up to 75% of the population.

iLauncher

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CM Launcher

Here's another lightweight solution for all those on the market for a new launcher. Indeed, CM Launcher goes easy on your phone's storage (<1MB), while still sporting interesting features. It organizes your apps into smart folders and also comes with a built-in anti-virus protection, as the developer puts it.

CM Launcher

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Turbo Launcher Ex

Everything about Turbo Launcher EX is focused around gestures - you can swipe the screen up to bring out your recent apps, swipe the bottom dock to enter app search, or even switch between the different views of the interactive weather widget. Unfortunately, customization options are quite basic, which might scare away some users.

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Launcher Lab

Launcher Lab is a mix between Themer, Buzz Launcher, Nova, and iLauncher. It has adopted all the good features from all of the aforementioned tools, making it quite an intriguing Android launcher. Apart from the strikingly eye-pleasing animations, Launcher Lab also allows you to customize it by downloading different themes for it; you can also create new animations and transition effects. It also has an iOS-like control center (available via a swipe from the bottom) and an app search feature.

Go Next Launcher 3D Shell is the best on the market right now. I've got 7 of the Launchers listed in the article and use them all from time to time. Apex Pro and Nova Prime are good values they just don't have the features Go Next Launcher 3D Shell has for business professionals and power users. It is more expensive but worth it if you need the best and most productive Launcher on the market.

This isn't to flame you. I'm genuinely curious what makes you think Next is the power user's choice. I bought it but only use it occasionally to see what they've done recently. I stick with Nove Prime for the exact same reasons you list for Next. Go provides a sidebar but Nova has the most extensive gesture controls. With Nova and Appsi running, I've never been tempted to keep Next for any length of time. What am I missing?

Not saying Nova or Apex are bad, Go Next has more widgets for Calendars, ToDo List, etc. The menus to build your UI are more robust, even the side bar slide has a pop up menu. I am just comparing 2D to 2D, not even to mention the 3D environment of Next. Some of those, aficionados would not even consider a plain 2D UI.

Apex Pro and Nova Prime may even be a better value for the price, it's just Next Launcher 3D Shell has the most features and functionality right now.

Well, it looks like it's time for me to try it again. One of my larger complaints with Next was there was no way to search themes that were made for the 3D engine. I didn't care for the 2D and the 3D themes were fairly limited and not the easiest to find. Thanks for setting me straight on features I may have missed.

Try flicking the Dock either up or down it should take two flicks. Select "Personality" > "Theme".

It should give you a list at the top of Launcher, Live Wallpaper, Locker. Under those 3 you should have "Featured" & "Installed" Themes you can browse those and at the bottom you can select "Get More Themes" for each category. You can also search for 3D Themes.

If you want more detail you can start a new topic at Android Central Forums or one of your other favorite forums.

I have just downloaded Next Launcher to try. So far I am only half impressed. First it is full of advertising, it looks fantastic, if not a bit "too flashy", but the rubbish scattered all over the home pages was annoying. Second, can you set up how many home screens and dock menus you want? I am still tinkering at the moment but if this is not available I will uninstall.

I will look at the home screens and dock menus. The version I downloaded did have icons scattered everywhere that were all related to products being sold. When going into the settings menus many of the items were paid (for example themes) many said they were free but when downloaded they are non-operational, just examples and directed to to the playstore to pay for a functional version. I do not mind paying, but this was a little backhanded. Looking at reviews there were many comments on this. I will give it a week of playing with to see if it matches my current and long term launcher Apex.

Yep, nothing wrong with Apex at all they had an update on 12/20/15. Agree it is annoying to have so many paid themes in Next. It is real hit or miss if the free ones have ads or not. I tend to avoid the ad based themes.

True that bro, themer has such beautiful homescreens, but no app drawer customisation at all. That really made me to ditch it. BTW TSF shell sucks, its such a mess and lags(January 2012) like hell. I bought it for $17(3D skeuomorphism was all rage those days) and boy what a mess. I regret that waste of money.
And what is GNFTW.

i think NOVA, KK and Solo are the best launchers for me and i like the customer support of KK launcher, they are so active and yes ive seen KK when its still a baby and i can tell they really did a good job developing it. The laggy KK back then is now super smooth.

Great article! Never had time try all these interesting launchers!
Apex for me! Nova doesn't give gesture swipes for free! And Apex is lighter on RAM!
Next Launcher is wonderful! I've used a modded version with Lucky Patcher some time ago before its major updates! The effects when swiping are amazing! Too expensive though even when on sale it was about $8!

How you justify $16.99 or an extra $12.00 is a good question. For me the robust menus, extra widgets like calendar, todo, and other PIM functions are worth an extra $1.00/month. If you use those tools day and day out, it is worth the extra cost.

Keep in mind that your stock launcher is still running. You are actually adding to the amount of RAM being used. Running these launchers does not really disable your stock UI, touchwiz, sense.. All still running.

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